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Building Bookshelves to Last How to support loads of any size and weight for years to come B Y J E F F M I L L E R E veryone can use a few more shelves. Indeed, in many homes, an available shelf can be as difficult to find as the TV remote. So if you build a set of bookshelves, they’ll probably be filled as soon as the finish dries. Bookshelves can work in any room. You can make them free-standing or built-in. They can be big or small. And they can take any form, from simple screwedtogether and painted plywood for use in a utility room, to sophisticated formal library shelves made from beautiful hardwoods. A shelf should look good A successful bookshelf design must achieve a balance between appearance and function. A shelf with the perfect look might not be adequately strong. That often means making changes as you work out the design. A good approach is to start by writing out a wish list that summarizes your ideal shelf design. The list should include the shelf depth, a factor determined by the width of the books going on the shelf. Next, choose a shelf length (bookcase width). Then, choose a shelf thickness—3⁄4-in. stock is readily available, but let your eye make the final determination. After that, decide if you want the shelves to be fixed, adjustable, or some of each. Finally, choose a joint or mounting system that offers the look you want. The design process is just beginning once you’ve worked out your bookshelf 38 F I N E WO O DWO R K I N G Drawing: Stephen Hutchings